Screening in the woods

[j-bird]

Wanting to and being able to are two different things. You may have to grossly change your access route to do it. The current trail may be the easy route, but if your exposed and educating the deer in the process then you need to make some changes.

First thing I would do....is once season is over. Get a buddy to go with you and go to those bedding areas and see what the deer can see. One of you go into those bedding areas and the other walk your access route and communicate over your cell phones. You should be marking where you are exposed and then focus your efforts in those areas. It would be like the opposite of making shooting lanes! Or like I said you work on a different route to that stand. I would do this in the winter or early spring as this will be the "worst case" from a cover perspective. Maybe you create some windrows of brush and transplant some vine honeysuckle to create that visual barrier you need.

You may find that you simply need to take some time for your thinning to do it's job and the understory to grow some.... Your thinning is currently working against you....but will turn to your favor with time.

 

[PatinPA]

Wanting to and being able to are two different things. You may have to grossly change your access route to do it. The current trail may be the easy route, but if your exposed and educating the deer in the process then you need to make some changes.

First thing I would do....is once season is over. Get a buddy to go with you and go to those bedding areas and see what the deer can see. One of you go into those bedding areas and the other walk your access route and communicate over your cell phones. You should be marking where you are exposed and then focus your efforts in those areas. It would be like the opposite of making shooting lanes! Or like I said you work on a different route to that stand. I would do this in the winter or early spring as this will be the "worst case" from a cover perspective. Maybe you create some windrows of brush and transplant some vine honeysuckle to create that visual barrier you need.

You may find that you simply need to take some time for your thinning to do it's job and the understory to grow some.... Your thinning is currently working against you....but will turn to your favor with time.

Ya, you're right. I'm just being impatient. It's one of my better stands so I like to hunt it. After season is over I'll check it out. It's just a pain in the butt at the moment. I'd actually prefer to have a tree stand on the opposite side of the road but there is no way that is possible right now. I'd stick out like a sore thumb. My rifle stand is 80 yds from the border and they pick me out.

 

[j-bird]

Ya, you're right. I'm just being impatient. It's one of my better stands so I like to hunt it. After season is over I'll check it out. It's just a pain in the butt at the moment. I'd actually prefer to have a tree stand on the opposite side of the road but there is no way that is possible right now. I'd stick out like a sore thumb. My rifle stand is 80 yds from the border and they pick me out.

Winter is a great time to assess things like this. You can see more thru the woods and get a "worst case" view. Post season scouting will also tell you what those wise survivors are doing as well and can be great info to have in your back pocket when the hunting pressure starts to build.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Winter is a great time to assess things like this. You can see more thru the woods and get a "worst case" view. Post season scouting will also tell you what those wise survivors are doing as well and can be great info to have in your back pocket when the hunting pressure starts to build.

Agree with post-season scouting 100% !!! A big recommendation by Gene and Barry Wensel too. Snow on the ground makes this a dream.

I've wrestled with spruce and pines in shady locations & slower growth. I've found that tossing a circle of 10-10-10 around them in early April will kick-start them faster. If you want them thick, top them so they push more low branches with more twigs & shoots.